Tyrone Mears last played against Wigan in January

Derby's Tyrone Mears is relishing the prospect of playing pain-free football again after successful surgery on his long-standing shin injury.

The Rams defender has not played since January after finally succumbing to the stress fracture problem that has plagued him for the past three years.

But the 25-year-old full-back hopes to return to action in mid to late April.

"I've tried to play through the injury but now I've had an operation that hopefully puts it to be bed," he said.

"The shin started to hurt and hurt and around Christmas time I was just a spectator in games," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"I just thought I was embarrassing myself and I wasn't doing me or my team-mates any good."